Some planned renovations to the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre are being fast-tracked.
Owen Sound’s community services committee approved a staff recommendation at a meeting Wednesday to replace the arena floor and boards next summer, instead of when the work was originally planned in 2026.
The city’s Manager of Arena Operations Ryan Gowan told committee members a leak in the refrigeration piping of the arena floor was discovered during the startup of the plant for this year’s hockey season. Hundreds of litres of brine were leaking each day.
A contractor installed a seal product last month to patch the leak, but Gowan says that is only a short-term solution which “will get us through this hockey season.”
The arena floor and boards at the Bayshore are original to the building, which was constructed in 1983.
The city’s capital plan includes $1.15-million for arena slab replacement in 2026, as well as $575,000 for new boards.
“Staff is recommending we advance this project to the summer of 2025,” Gowan says. “This approach aims at minimizing the risk for another failure, or potential negative impacts on rentals or revenues.”
The plan is to start construction May 6, 2025 — after the annual Home and Garden Expo — and target Sept. 6 for having the ice back in, ready for users.
The renovations will impact summer floor users at the Bayshore Community Centre — including Owen Sound North Stars minor lacrosse, as well as the Junior B, Senior A and Senior B North Stars teams. The Owen Sound Attack, and other fall ice users, could also be affected.
Gowan says city staff met with lacrosse groups last week, and plan to meet with the Attack and the Owen Sound Agricultural Society to discuss the project.
“Every effort will be made to minimize the impact on these users,” he says. “We’ll work to accommodate them at the (Julie McArthur Regional Rec Centre) or potential neighbouring municipalities as well.”
Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter told committee members the plan is to install the second ice pad at the rec centre earlier than usual next summer, to accommodate ice users displaced from the Bayshore.
“We are working with the Ag society because putting the ice in would displace the fall fair from using the second pad for their quilt show and home expo,” she says.
A report on the Bayshore Community Centre renovations will be brought to council for information as well.
